Accrington on Rails - The Tramways: A Complete History - Robert Kenyon

should be made by October 15 th . Also details of previous applications should be included in the forms. It was resolved that in view of the ‘greatly increasing’ costs of working the tramway including maintenance and renewals it was prudent to make an application to the Ministry for an extension of the present order. An application was received from Clayton-le-Moors UDC, asking the Corporation’s consent to fix ‘road direction signs’ to the tramway standards near to the junction of Church Lane with Whalley Road, (Greyhound), and at the junction of Whalley Road with Burnley Road and Blackburn Road at the Hare & Hounds in Clayton centre. It was resolved to allow these plates to be fitted as requested, providing it was done to the satisfaction of the Tramway Manager and providing the Corporation was indemnified from all liability or any damage caused, which might result from the fitting of these directional signs to be fixed. The Town Council met and the Town Clerk referred to a minute of the Tramways Committee adopted by the Council on July 5 th last in which it recommended that favourable consideration should be given to promoting a Bill in Parliament to enable the Corporation to operate omnibus services. It asked for specific instructions as to whether the Tramway Manager ought to proceed further with this matter, with a view to such a Bill being promoted in the next Parliamentary Session. It was resolved in the first instance that the Mayor, Aldermen Higham and Waddington along with Councillor Constantine and the Town Clerk should meet with representatives of the Ministry of Transport before taking any further steps towards this goal. On this same day the Electricity & Tramways Committee met and it was resolved they would come together again on Monday the 18 th of October at 10:00, for the purpose of inspecting the tracks on every section of the tramway. October At a meeting of the Watch Committee it was the motor ambulance which was on the agenda, when it was proposed that its operation should be transferred from the Tramway department to the police. It was resolved to refer this to the Chairman and Vice-Chair of the General Purposes Committee for further consideration and a report. The Electricity & Tramways Committee met and it was decided to postpone the inspection of the tramway tracks for one week. It would now take place on October 25 th instead. At a meeting of the Town Council, the Town Clerk reported on the conversations the deputation appointed by the Council had with the Ministry of Transport in connection with the proposals to run Motor Omnibuses in the Borough. It was decided that this report on the lines now mentioned should be approved and adopted. November The Tramways Sub-Committee met when the Tramway Manager submitted an application from the Transport & General Workers’ Union for compensation for an injury to one of the Corporation’s tramway drivers who had met with an accident on June 6 th , 1918, under the provisions of the Workmen’s Compensation Acts 1906 to 1925. It was then resolved the Tramway Manager should be authorised to have selected tramcars reconstructed as much as was possible to make them suitable for running on the Blackburn Section of the tramway. The Sub-Committee then considered a letter from the Clerk to Clayton-le-Moors UDC suggesting that return tickets might be made available beyond the day of issue. It was resolved the Town Clerk would reply that due to certain administrative difficulties they could not see their way to recommending the adoption of this suggestion. It was further resolved to make a recommendation that tramcars should operate on all sections of the Tramway on every Saturday night at 23:15, commencing on December the 11 th next. December The Tramways Sub-Committee met to receive a communication from Oswaldtwistle UDC intimating they were considering the question of providing a tram and omnibus waiting room at the terminus in Oswaldtwistle at the junction of Union Road and Bury Street in Moor End. This was a site they had just secured and they considered it to be a place very suitable for this purpose. The total cost including the demolition of a cottage and the erection of this new structure was estimated at £1,150. Having regard that this would be mainly to the advantage of the tramway passengers, the District Council were requesting that Accrington Council along with the Omnibus Company should consider making a grant towards the cost. It was resolved that subject to the shelter being used exclusively for the stated purposes, Accrington Council would be recommended to make a contribution of £150 towards the cost. The Electricity & Tramways Committee met when it was resolved to approve and adopt the minutes of the Sub-Committee. The Tramway Manager then reported he had made arrangements for a continuous service of trams to operate on all sections of the tramway on Christmas Day. The Town Clerk reported that in conjunction with a claim for compensation by one of the employees of the Tramway Department, and, acting on the advice of Dr Wheeler, he had arranged for an X-ray examination of the claimant at the

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